NOT SINCE THE ACCIDENT
3 Track CD Reviewed by Bones

Getting a demo CD from a new band can be a bit of a mixed bag. Whilst I will try to be positive, as most bands are doing it for the love of the music, sometimes it’s difficult to review a genre of music that you have no knowledge of /interest in. So it was a pleasant surprise to recently receive a local bands first effort that definitely had more than a hint of a punk rock slant to it.

NOT SINCE THE ACCIDENT, formed at the end of last year and, having composed a solid setlist of nine songs, are looking to get out on the road in the South Wales area and road test their compositions. Made up of various stalwarts of the Cardiff music scene they boast Rhys on Vocals (Ex The Shove Its), Steve on guitar/backing vox (The Melophobes), bass player Boris (Gung Ho) and Lewis who performs drumming duties in No Choice and Gung Ho. Whilst influenced by many different bands and genres, they all have a common love of punk rock. However, their idea when writing songs is to make each one different to the last by fusing a myriad of styles.

First track “Digital Leash” uses a similar telephone dialling intro to Blondie’s Hanging on the Telephone, albeit that this is where the similarity ends as NSTA’s track is much heavier than Ms Harry’s pop classic. A nifty backbeat, almost done in a punk drum and bass style, means that the track moves along at a rattling good pace and has a catchy as hell chorus. Rhys’ voice has a certain gravely edge to it, not dissimilar to Cal from early Discharge, and the band sound tight and well rehearsed given that they are in their early days. This track is sure to be a firm favourite when the band starts gigging.

Next number “Charriere” is written around the story of Henri Charriere, the convicted murderer-turned-author chiefly known for Papillon, his hugely successful memoir of incarceration in, and escape from, a penal colony on French Guiana. The number starts is a straight edged punk style, not dissimilar to say Sick of It All, complete with an Oi chorus of “Never give in, never give up”. However, they throw in a curve ball with a middle section of skankingly good reggae. Once again the track shows up the accomplished drumming skills of Lewis, as the beat meanders in tempo through the song.

Final song “Load Me Up (Before Yo Go Go)” brings out Steve from the shadows to take over vocals. Of all the trax this is the most obviously punk, with a So-Cal feel. A solid bass line from Boris (who rather disapointingly is not Boris Johnson) keep the musical shape as the number rattles along, coming in at a blistering 1 min 47 seconds.

So a promising start from a band that will certainly warrant more attention in the future. But don’t take the word of an old git like me check out the MP3 links above or at the following:

www.reverbnation.com/notsincetheaccident
www.facebook.com/pages/Not-Since-The-Accident/166308920094225

Finally on a sadder note, I would like to add my own shock and sadness on the recent death of Poly Styrene. I had the pleasure of reviewing her latest CD for R*E*P*E*A*T. For my own pure vanity I sent a copy to her website, and she was classy enough to spare the time to say thanks to a nobody like me. A beautiful lady who was an integral part of the early punk scene that opened up previously closed doors to women in rock music. She will be sadly missed.

Poly Styrene RIP

Bones